The First Few Days

We’ve been in South Africa for four days now, and it almost seems like I have been here forever. Everything is new and odd, and at the same time, rather familiar. The oddest thing of all is the sun and moon. Because it is Winter, the sun is low on the horizon as it moves across the sky, but it is low on the Northern horizon, not the Southern horizon, so I constantly have the odd feeling that the sun is rising in the West, and setting in the East.
Today I may have managed to orient myself slightly better, because I unconsciously pointing north when talking about the north instead of pointing towards one of the other cardinal points on the compass.

OAMC and Arise O Men just finished their third day of rehearsals, and it is amazing. Lou, OAMC's conductor, and Mokale, Arise O Man's (the chorus that we joined here in SA) conductor took turns conducting today, depending on what type of work the guys needed to do on the various pieces of music, and it was interesting observing how their styles differed.

But the music! I must rave over this. The ladies especially tend to be relatively busy while the men rehearse; running to and fro in meetings, preparing food, taking quick trips to the grocery store, sewing buttons back on, fetching water and cough drops for the singers, and much more. However, there are moments where everyone stops dead in their tracks because now the two choirs (plus our two guys who traveled down from Romania to join us: Allin and Dr Petrea) have suddenly begun to sing as one voice.

The different parts can clearly be heard, but all the voices--American, South Africa, Botswanian, and Romanian--are all singing in perfect sync, breathing pauses are perfectly timed, crescendos are breathtaking, and when Lou or Mokale's conducting becomes tiny and precise, all the 150 mens voices sink to barely above a whisper, and all the listeners hold their breath as each note is hit perfectly.

I got goosebumps so many times today, and not once was it from the weather. The most incredible song of the was when the entire choir stood in a circle around the inside of the church holding hands and sang Go My Children as their last song of the rehearsal, and all the ladies were sitting inside the circle, listening in utter rapture. 

Surround Sound has nothing on being inside a circle of OAMC and AOM men singing their hearts out. 

This is truly the single most inspiring and incredible trip that I have ever been on. As far as I know, not a person is here who wishes that they had remained at home. The only danger is that we'll arrive back home 50 pounds heavier, since we're eating about the same amount as usual, and sitting far, far more than--I, at least--am accustomed to.

And now, my least favorite part. Guys, we could really use some funding. Not only myself, but a lot of the South African guys are really, really struggling to get all the funds they need to travel. It will cost each of them about 5,000 rand to travel with us, which is about $700. Pray for us! Tell your churches, friends, and rich people looking for something to donate to that is tax deductible about this trip! It is SO worth supporting.

Checks can be mailed to:

OAMC
5575 Fruitvale RD NE
Salem, OR 97317-3334

with a little note that says "The OAMC member who asked me to make this donation is Sarah Herbert."

HOWEVER, there is an easier way to donate, and it's via debit or credit car. It is also probably the easiest and fastest way to make a donation. Here is the link for the instructions:

http://www.oamc.org/PayOnline.pdf

And here is the link to the page where you can make the donation:

https://www.wallawalla.edu/epayment/index.php/payment/

Thank you all so much! I'll update as often as I can, which may prove tricky, since we'll be traveling a lot, starting on Weds morning, and no idea when I'll be able to get online. Stay safe, and keep reading about my Africa adventures! :)

The OAMC official blog can be found at http://oamcnews.blogspot.com/